Greg and Mike, I could not just let this go without investigation. There has to be something going on here. Mike's tractor is a TC45 and mine is a TC45D. We got these before NH changed the design and the designation of TC45A and TC45DA. I went to the NH parts and service online to look at diagrams for all these models. I am shocked at the difference. Obviously, NH has changed the design of the fenders between models and even within the same model type as many as three times. Who knows whether they have changed how heavy the fiberglass is or its reinforcement. It seems that NH is not being very forthcoming with details to dealers or owners. Another funny thing is that you have to look under the heading "sheetmetal" to find the fenders, and hood. I guess they call fiberglass and plastic "sheetmetal." That doesn't really build my confidence.
Here is what I found:
1 - On TC45A and TC45DA tractors, there have been three different fender designs. The bolts between the ROPS and fenders has a metal plate on the inside and outside of the fenders, effectively sandwiching the fender between plates. There is no damping rubber gasket or between the plate and the fender as there should be in my opinion.
2. Mike, your TC45 has bolts and washers attaching the fender, and also a "spacer" that is probably a big metal washer. It has no flat plates like the A/DA models.
3. My TC45D has bolts and washers, but also a rubber damper washer almost 1/4" thick between the fender and the ROPS attaching hardware. The fender has the same part number as Mike's TC45, but the mounting hardware includes this rubber damper.
In my opinion, the soft damper or the addition of one is the best insurance against cracks in the area Greg is having a problem, and also would be an improvement on the older TC45 design if the "spacer" is indeed metal instead of rubber.
Mike and I also have a different handhold on each fender. Ours is attached to the ROPS in back as part of the taillight mounting hardware and also to the fender in front. The newer tractors have a plastic hangrip that is attached to only the fender. I'm sure it is not as solid as the older design.
I found one crack in the plastic fender on my tractor where the left handhold attaches to the fender. I know what that is and when it happened. I was working in my woods with my ROPS up and clipped a huge limb on a postoak tree. The limb just exploded off the tree and fell in front of the ROPS, pushing the seat forward and pinning me against the steering wheel. The tree came to rest on top of the left fender handhold. That's when my fender cracked and also when I learned that ROPS down is the wise way to work in the woods. I was not hurt, but if the limb (almost 12" diameter) had hit me on the head, I'd not be posting anymore.
